Subject Code: 212 TAMIL NADU PUBLIC SERVIE …

1 1 Subject Code: 212 TAMIL NADU PUBLIC SERVIE COMMISSION post OF assistant agricultural officer IN TAMIL NADU agricultural EXTENSION SUBORDINATE SERVICE AGRICULTURE (DIPLOMA STANDARD) Unit -I -Agronomic principles, practices and meteorology Agriculture Definition Scope of agriculture in India and TAMIL Nadu - Branches of agriculture Agronomy Art and Science of Crop Production. Agronomical classification of crops their importance. Major crops of India and TAMIL Nadu. Factors affecting Crop Production Moisture, Aeration, Light, Temperature and Nutrients. Cropping systems definitions, Principles.

2 Principles and Practices of agricultural Operations Tillage and Tilth Objectives and Types of Tillage Primary tillage, Secondary Tillage and Intercultural Operations, Implements and Tools in Agriculture. Meteorology agricultural Meteorology Definition - Importance in Crop Production - Atmosphere Components and its importance Weather Parameters and their role in Crop Production. Rainfall Spatial and Temporal Variability in TAMIL Nadu across Seasons Agro Climatic Zones of TAMIL Nadu Irrigation sources of water for irrigation water movement, soil moisture constants available soil moisture - effect of water stress on crop yield water use efficiency water requirement of major crops critical stages of water requirement irrigation scheduling types and advantages Irrigation methods Irrigation water use efficiency management of poor quality irrigation water - soil erosion due to water and control.

3 Weeds definition and importance of weed control in crop production classification of weeds methods of weed control manual, mechanical, cultural, chemical and biological methods relative merits and demerits Herbicide classification based on mode of action and method of application common herbicides available in the market weed control practices for major crops parasitic, problematic and aquatic weed management - integrated weed management concepts and practices. Agronomic Practices including Climatic and Soil Requirement, Land Preparation Seeds and Sowing Varieties Fertilizer Management Irrigation Weed Control Harvesting Cropping Systems for Cereals, Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds, Commercial Crops, Forages and Green Manure Crops.

4 Cultivation of Mulberry Crop 2 Unit-II -Dry Farming and Agro-Forestry Dry Farming Definition and Present Status in TAMIL Nadu Soils of Dry Farming Tracts and their limitation to Crop Production Major Crops of Dry Land. Suitable Dry Land Technology for increased Crop Productivity Pre-monsoon sowing Conventional Crop Production Vs Alternate land Use in Dry Land Integrated Farming Systems in drylands. Erosion - Classification of Erosion Water and Wind Erosion Land Slide Contour Bund, Graded Bund, Bench Terrace, Contour Stone Wall. Gully Control Structures Cultivation Practices Water Harvest Farm Ponds Percolation Ponds Weather aberrations and Contingent Crop Planning Important Drought Events in TAMIL Nadu and their effect on Crop Production.

5 Watershed development definition and components Land use classification Role of Forests Indian forests Status Classification Disciplines in Forestry Agroforestry Definition Differences between Agroforestry, Social Forestry, Urban Forestry Advantages Agroforestry Systems Primary Systems Agrisilviculture, Silvipasture, Agrisilvipasture Mixed Wood Lots Sub Systems Shifting Cultivation Taungya Home Gardens Alley cropping Wind Break and Shelter Belts Agroforestry Practices. Constraints in Agroforestry Trees for Problem Soils Sand Sand Dune Stabilisation Social Forestry Projects in TAMIL Nadu Industrial Agroforestry Waste land development types of wastelands and management practices.

6 Management Practices for Multi Purpose Trees (MPT) Teak, Casuarina, Ailanthus, Neem, Bamboo, Acacia Unit-III -Soils and Fertility Management Definition of Soil Its main components Soils of TAMIL Nadu. Soil Physical Properties Colour, Texture, Structure, Bulk Density, Pore Space, Soil water, Soil Air, Soil Temperature and their significance in crop production. Soil Chemical Properties Soil Colloids Ion-exchange Reactions Soil Organic Matter and its decomposition Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles Soil Micro Organisms Importance of Organic Matter on Soil Properties. Soil Reaction Acid, Saline and Alkaline Soils Their Formation and Reclamation Soil Pollutants.

7 Soil Fertility Major, Secondary and Minor Plant Nutrients. Soil Fertility evaluation, Soil Testing and fertilizer recommendations. Fertilizers Nitrogenous, Phosphatic and Potassic Fertilizers Complex and Mixed Fertilizers, Efficient use of Fertilizers. Bio-Fertilizers Groups of Bio-Fertilizers Bacterial, Fungal, Algal and Azolla. Irrigation water Qualities of irrigation water - Water testing 3 Unit-IV- Horticultural Crop Cultivation Techniques Study of Cultural Practices of the following Fruit Crops with reference to Soil, Climate, Varieties, Methods of Propagation, Cultural, Manurial, Horticultural and Irrigation practices physiological and nutritional disorders - Training and Pruning Role of Growth Regulators Maturity Standards Methods of Harvesting Yield.

8 post harvest Technology Grading Packing Storage. Tropical fruits:- Mango, Banana, Grapes, Papaya, Sapota, Guava, Citrus, Pomegranate, Ber, Annona, Amla and Jack. Subtropical and Temperate fruits: Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum and Pineapple. Propagation methods sexual, asexual and micro-propagation merits and demerits steps in micro-propagation packing and marketing of tissue culture plants Importance of Vegetables Nutritive Value Types of Vegetable Garden: Kitchen Garden, Nutritional Garden, Truck Garden, Commercial Garden Soil and Climatic Requirements, Varieties, Cultural Practices, Irrigation, weeding use of growth regulators, manuring, Harvesting, Yield and post Harvest Handling of Tomato, Brinjal, Chillies, Bhendi, Onion, Cucurbits; Temperate Vegetables like Cauliflower, Cabbage, Turnip, Knol-khol.

9 Salad Vegetables; Root and Tuber vegetables; Greens and Perennials Tissue Culture achievements in Vegetables. Cultural Requirements of Commercial Flower Crops Jasmine, Rose, Chrysanthemum, Marigold, Tuberose, Crossandra, Cockscomb. Garden Design Formal and Informal Gardens Components of Garden Lawns and Lawn Making Study of Important Flowering Annuals, Flowering and Foliage Shrubs Flowering and Foliage Trees Creepers and Climbers Cacti and Succulents Indoor Plants and Indoor Decoration Cut Flowers Flower arrangement Bonsai Culture and dry flower decoration. Preparing ornamental garden design for home Lawn Making.

10 Different Methods of Lawn Making Identification of Important Annuals, Herbaceous, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Cacti and Succulents, Creepers and Climbers, Bulbous Plants and Hedge Plants Preparation of Pot Mixture Potting and Repotting Exercise Raising Nursery for Ornamental Plants Flower Arrangement Interior decoration Bonsai Practices Definition Area and Production Soil, Climate, Varieties, Propagation, Cultural, Manurial and Irrigation Practices, Training and Pruning, Harvesting, Yield, Processing, Grading and Packing, Value added Products of : Spices Pepper, Cardamom, Clove, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Allspice, Turmeric, Ginger, tamarind, Coriander and Fenugreek.